While American hardcore wrestling often prioritizes spectacle and shocking visual moments that generate immediate reactions and give fans something to talk about the next day– Japanese hardcore wrestlers tend to blend the style with technical wrestling, showing quick thinking and every move being executed for a reason. When they use a weapon, it's utilized as a tool instead of only a means of destruction. Japanese hardcore is often integrated with other wrestling styles. It's common to see Japanese hardcore matches incorporate elements of strong style, with wrestlers doing things such as exchanging stiff strikes and delivering suplexes before or during the use of weapons.
In other words, the hardcore style adds to the excitement of a match when it is integrated with technical wrestling. It creates a thrilling match with something extra, because the weapons add to, not replace, the wrestling action.
FMW and BJW were pioneers in popularizing hardcore wrestling in the 1990s, with their style eventually leading to multiple FMW DVDs being produced in the United States and BJW exporting BJW DVDs overseas directly to their customers. Although there has been interest from American networks in the BJW product, none of them were networks that would be competitive with networks that feature major promotions today. Yet, even if a promotion like FMW or BJW were on an American network, they would likely have to contend with groups holding extreme views that are against televised violence and would attempt to have the promotion removed from American airwaves. A big difference between the American and Japanese wrestling scenes is that it is very difficult for hardcore promotions to thrive in America. State athletic commissions in America have eliminated the use of weapons.
However, Japanese hardcore matches don't only feature weapons and violence- psychology is displayed from the opening bell to the end of the match. They are very similar to movies- the in-ring maneuvers and weapon usage are like action sequences, and the near-falls and emotional moments create dramatic tension.
A legend of the ring, Atsushi Onita is credited with helping the hardcore / deathmatch style become popular in Japan. He rose to fame in the pro-wrestling industry as a result of his many successes in FMW- Onita won the FMW Double Championship a record seven times), and he also won the FMW Six Man Street Fight Tag Team Championship. Onita is the founder of FMW and was the driving force behind the promotion going from being a promotion that focused on both professional wrestling and martial arts to becoming a 100% professional wrestling promotion that featured a riskier style. It's worth noting that Onita did not expect the roster to do things that he wouldn't do himself- most of FMW's most dangerous moments have featured Onita.
As BJW continued to focus on the hardcore style into the 2000s, wrestlers including Ryuji Ito and Abdullah Kobayashi began to be recognized on the hardcore / deathmatch scene for their exceptional proficiency as wrestlers of that style. They were amongst the top draws on the BJW roster and helped increase the company's popularity. Even in recent years, Ito and Kobayashi are great representations of Japanese-style hardcore wrestling.
BJW and FMW (today known as FMW-E) were able to get around potential roadblocks and successfully branch out to the American market, and although difficult, it is possible for a hardcore style promotion to thrive in America long-term as a major promotion. It's simply a matter of knowing how to publicize its product effectively so that the target audience can be reached and convinced to buy imported DVDs and subscribe to a streaming service in order to see shows. There is room for all styles of promotions, as the industry continues to evolve.
While BJW and FMW-E continue to draw attention internationally, a number of new hardcore-style promotions have emerged. Currently, flying under the radar by comparison, they offer a unique and exciting alternative:
Prominence: Based in Tokyo and shining out of the corona pandemic, Prominence is a promotion that mainly features women wrestlers and blends together hardcore wrestling, technical wrestling, and comedy. Wrestlers who frequently appear on Prominence events are Prominence founder and two-time former ICExInfinity Champion Risa Sera, two-time former ICExInfinity Champion Hiragi Kurumi, and four-time former International Ribbon Tag Team Champion Mochi Natsumi.
FREEDOMS: Based in Tokyo, FREEDOMS is best known for its hardcore matches, much like how BJW is. FREEDOMS is not as well-known internationally as BJW, but it is a great promotion. Many fans of hardcore wrestling consider FREEDOMS to be one of the best hardcore promotions in Japan, due to its innovative and high-risk matches featuring experienced talent, two of them being legend and former CZW Junior Heavyweight Champion Jun Kasai and former BJW Death Match Heavyweight Champion Takashi Sasaki.
Deathmatch Innovative Element: Based in Tokyo, Deathmatch Innovative Element launched in 2021 and is one of the newer hardcore / deathmatch promotions in Japan, but it was founded by former BJW star Toshiyuki Sakuda, who has been a part of the scene for ten years. Originally, DIE had a no-ring, all-hardcore action format, but now, the promotion uses a ring. This increases the innovation within DIE matches, as the ring ropes and turnbuckles become tools for creative brutality- wrestlers can utilize them for weapon placement and usage. Wrestlers who have appeared in DIE include Jun Kasai, Abdullah Kobayashi, and former KO-D Openweight Champion Shigehiro Irie.
These three promotions have the potential to reach the level that BJW and FMW-E have, and it can fulfilled if they are publicized as effectively as possible so that fans become aware of what they have to offer, increasing the visibility and show attendance of hardcore promotions in Japan. And there is a potentially lucrative English market that is still very untapped. Several major Japanese wrestling promotions now provide information in English, and if an independent promotion does the same and connects with the English markets inside and outside of Japan, it will help them grow in visibility, show attendance, and streaming consumption. Hardcore wrestling maintains a consistent and dedicated fanbase in Japan- the English market is a part of that fanbase. A publicist can be very useful in helping a promotion reach this fanbase and build its brand. A publicist can be a valuable asset for any hardcore promotion that is looking to grow its fanbase and reach new markets. By working with a publicist, a promotion can increase its visibility, reach, and impact.
The legacy of hardcore wrestling in Japan is complex. While it has produced some of the bloodiest and most controversial matches in wrestling history, it has also showcased the incredible toughness, dedication, and fighting spirit of Japanese wrestlers. It's a style that continues to spark debates amongst fans regarding what is acceptable in professional wrestling, and the nature of entertainment, art, and violence. However, it has also contributed to the evolution of the industry, influencing wrestling styles and promotions around the world. It’s a subgenre that demands respect for the physical sacrifices made by the performers, even as it raises questions about the limits of spectacle.
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